Travel Technology - Solutions where BB phone won't work (900 MHz)

Seems as though my Blackberry phone will not work on my trip to South Africa. The two major carriers there operate on 900 MHz, where BB doesn't operate. I'm not concerned about GRPS data coverage, just would like to be able to make/receive calls on GSM.

Do I need to buy a new phone? Seems sort of silly since almost every other area I travel in has an 1800 MHz carrier where I can use BB, but I'm there for two weeks and the cost of renting a phone for that long seems comparable to just buying a cheapie that operates in 900.

Any solutions I'm not thinking of? Suggestions for cheapie 900 MHz phones?

I assume you have an ATT Blackberry? Or an old T-mobile version?

The cheapest solution would be Ebay, I'm sure you can find an old 900 phone there for under $50. And then sell it again if you want to when you are back.

I assume you have an ATT Blackberry? Or an old T-mobile version?

The cheapest solution would be Ebay, I'm sure you can find an old 900 phone there for under $50. And then sell it again if you want to when you are back.

BB 7280 from Cingular.

The BlackBerry is GSM1800/1900? Wierd.

Yes, 850/1800/1900.

The BlackBerry is GSM1800/1900? Wierd.

Nothing weird about it. There are 850/1800/1900 devices and even a 1900 only Berry.

Even if you had a Blackberry supporting GSM900, it would do you no good as Cingular doesn't have a GPRS roaming agreement with their voice roaming partners Vodacom and MTN:

http://www.cingular.com/roaming/roaming_we_za

Another reason to always keep another carrier Blackberry as a "spare"... You can run multiple network Blackberries on one BES with no issues (even among different countries)....

Slightly OT here, but next time I go to the UK I'm planning on using the BB phone with SIM cards purchased there. My cingular rep tells me that all of the 7280's they sell are unlocked, but not sure I trust that. Any way to check before I go?

Even if you had a Blackberry supporting GSM900, it would do you no good as Cingular doesn't have a GPRS roaming agreement with their voice roaming partners Vodacom and MTN:


Yeah, I know, but not concerned about getting data while there (this is a vacation!), just want to be able to make and receive calls.

Slightly OT here, but next time I go to the UK I'm planning on using the BB phone with SIM cards purchased there. My cingular rep tells me that all of the 7280's they sell are unlocked, but not sure I trust that. Any way to check before I go?

Here is how you do it..

Go to Options > SIM Card

Type ALT+MEPD - if done correctly, you will see more options pop down.

Type ALT+MEPE - if done correctly it will prompt for the code.

Here is how you do it..

Go to Options > SIM Card

Type ALT+MEPD - if done correctly, you will see more options pop down.

Type ALT+MEPE - if done correctly it will prompt for the code.


MEPD gave me several more options.
MEPE nothing happens.

It does say "SIM Card: Security Disabled" at the top of the menu. And all of the menu items after the MEPD option is selected say "disabled". Is that what I'm looking for? Or is not being able to access MEPE options a problem?

When you did the MEPD, did it show "Network" as Active or Disabled?

If it's "Active" then the Blackberry *IS* SIM locked to Cingular

See the following link for info on all SA networks:
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_za.shtml

If you will primarily be in the larger towns then Cell-C may be an option for a Prepay card on GSM1800: Info on their Prepaid: http://www.cellc.co.za/renderxml.asp?sectionpage=goprepaid

Their coverage: http://www.gsmworld.com/cgi/imap_gsminfo.pl5?cou=za&net=cc&frame=middle

Network says disabled, so looks like all is well. And thanks for the tip on Cell-C.

You guys have been incredibly helpful!